Maria is a nine-year-old girl from Venezuela, a country that has been hit by a severe economic and social crisis that has forced millions of people to leave their homes and seek refuge in neighboring countries. She migrated with her family to Colombia in search of a better life. They now live in a rented room in a poor neighborhood, where they face discrimination and violence.

Maria suffers from chronic malnutrition, a condition that occurs when a child does not grow as tall as expected for their age due to lack of food or poor quality food. Chronic malnutrition can affect a child's physical and mental development, immune system, learning abilities, and future prospects. Chronic malnutrition can also increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases later in life.

Maria attends a school that is supported by WFP, the largest humanitarian organization fighting hunger worldwide. WFP provides hot lunches to over 350,000 Venezuelan migrant children in Colombia every day, as part of its regional response. Hot lunches not only improve the nutrition and health of children but also reduce their dropout rates and improve their academic performance.

Maria enjoys eating her lunch at school every day, which includes rice, beans, meat, vegetables, and fruit. She says that the lunch fills her stomach and gives her energy to study and play. She likes studying and playing with her friends at school, which helps her to feel welcome and safe. She wants to be a lawyer when she grows up. She says that she wants to defend the rights of migrants and refugees like herself.

Maria's story is one of courage and ambition despite hardship and deprivation. It shows how WFP's hot lunches can help improve the nutrition and education of children who suffer from hunger and malnutrition. It also shows how WFP's work is not only about feeding bodies but also about feeding minds and dreams.